Slowing Down


Caitlin wears a dress or a skirt practically every day. In fact it's stranger to see her wearing pants than anything else, so it's not as if he's not used to the sight of her bare skin. And it's not like he doesn't know Caitlin is beautiful, objectively or otherwise. Because she is, completely: only a fool wouldn't notice her soft curls, expressive eyes, well shaped legs and bright smile. Not to mention her sharp wit, the passionate way she dives into her work, the ferocity with which she protects the people she values. Barry has spent the better part of the last year surrounded by those things, becoming plenty familiar with all that is Caitlin Snow.

And yet, here he is, slack jawed and starry eyed at the sight of her-like every cheesy chick flick he'd watched with Iris growing up.

They're at the annual Central City Police Department fundraiser. As an employee, he's required to go but the rest of Team Flash had been given tickets by Joe as the only thank you he knows he can give them for all they do. Barry had arrived half an hour earlier because he'd promised Joe he would help with some last minute set up but he finds himself wishing he'd come with his team, if only to have gotten this embarrassing gawking done when he wasn't standing in a room with 200+ coworkers, socialites and donors. Then again, at least in the crowd they don't notice the expression.

It has to be the color, he decides a moment later, resolute and blinking back his stupor as Cisco and Caitlin spot him and make their way through the crowd. The red of her dress is exactly a match for his Flash costume and that can't be a coincidence, but it's certainly a distraction. The cut of it's nothing scandalous, but the bits and pieces of pale skin contrasting the red are really more alluring for the hints. (And when the heck did these thoughts come into play? But again, his color on any woman would be distracting, he reassures himself). Forcing a normal smile, Barry greets his two friends and they get down to the business of socializing and enjoying the evening.


It's after eleven and Barry is ready to pat himself on the back for how well he's put himself together after the evening's initial shock. But he's a glutton for punishment and so, when he sees Caitlin staring blankly across the dance floor, laughing silently as Cisco attempts to draw one of the data techs onto it, he can't help himself. The music changes from a quick tempo to a slow one and his hand is reaching out almost of its own volition.

"Dance with me Dr. Snow?" He asks playfully, with a confidence born of familiarity. Her answering smile is equal parts familiar and not but the tug it pulls in his stomach is certainly nothing he's ever felt before.

She doesn't even bother to answer, just sets her champagne glass on the table and lets him pull her away, inserting them carefully amongst the crowd. They tangle themselves together and for a moment Barry contemplates the benefits of a world that doesn't move at more than 500 miles an hour (a thought that only strengthens at the feel of her fingers ghosting along the back of his neck). "You look lovely tonight Caitlin," he mentions after a moment of silent, but largely meaningless, conversation. (One of the things he's most grown to treasure about their friendship is how easily they can say anything with a few glances).

"Who would have thought, Barry Allen, is a charmer?" she teases, grinning up at him. "But thank you, the color caught my eye more than anything." His fingers tighten at her waist and suddenly he can't help but wonder if she knows-knows exactly how distracted he's been all night, catching glances from the corner of his eye, fast as lightning while no one is looking.

Of course she does, he realizes. Caitlin Snow is always a half-step ahead of him. She's probably been seeing things he hasn't for a while now, just waiting for the fastest man alive to catch up.

Funny how that only happens when he manages to slow down and notice the details. Now that he has, he isn't going to let it pass him by. "Mine too," he smiles, tugging her a little bit closer, cheek pressed to her hair, fingers tracing absent patterns along her lower back, scarcely even bothing to sway along with the song he barely hears playing over them.

Some things are worth slowing down for.


I got caught up in the idea of Barry suddenly seeing Caitlin in a new light and then got the idea of her wearing something in Flash red and well, here we are. Might revisit this in the future, either a rewrite, an addition or reuse the concept and give it another go. Let me know your thoughts :)

Take Care & Best Wishes,

A.O.R.